ESKA European Championships – Protugal

Mel’s European Championship medals – Silver for Cadet individual Kata and Bronze for Junior Team Kumite

Congratulations to Meleri Pryse and Steven Bailey from Ikkyo Aberystwyth Karate Club! Both students were selected to represent Wales in the European Championships, which took place in Portugal. They travelled with their Chief Instructor, Welsh Squad Kata Coach Paul James on Thursday 21st of November to spend a day training before the competition started on Friday 22nd of November. Competition was fierce on the first day, with Meleri Pryse winning round after round before finally winning a hard-fought place in the final. She performed a near-perfect rendition of Gankaku, eventually taking home the silver. She was also a member of the Ladies Team Kumite (fighting) event, who all fought well, winning a place in the finals. They were eventually beaten by the host country’s team, despite a very strong showing, and won the bronze medal.

On the second day, fighting spirits were even higher, and it was the turn of Steven Bailey. He won a number of rounds in the Junior Male Kata event, before facing the current Junior World Champion Sam Biranvand from Sweden during the final round on his area. Winning this round would have taken him to the Semi Finals. Unfortunately, Steven’s competitor was on form again, beating everyone in the competition and regaining his European title for a second consecutive year.

Competitors are permitted to enter the category above as well as their own. Meleri, despite being a cadet, bravely entered the Junior Female Kata event and gave an incredible performance, eventually placing 6th overall in the competition narrowly missing out on the finals by just 0.3 points.

Steven also entered the senior category, performing well in the Senior Male Kata event, unfortunately meeting the current senior World Champion Hisham Saif in the second round. A string of unlucky draws for Steven but some great performances none the less and at his rate of improvement he’ll be closing in on his rivals very soon.

Both students train incredibly hard as we’re sure you already know, and their accomplishments just show how dedication and hard training pay off.

Click through to watch the videos:

DSCF0643 cadet kata Meleri
http://youtu.be/m21MTwqo2Ms

DSCF0644 cadet kata Hannah
http://youtu.be/SqNj1Wx02SI

DSCF0645 cadet kata Meleri
http://youtu.be/WYq8PJOn99s

DSCF0646 cadet kata Meleri
http://youtu.be/OYVZfeHvtt0

DSCF0647 cadet team kumite Hannah
http://youtu.be/t1R7s_g–gw

DSCF0648 cadet team kumite Kirsty
http://youtu.be/FK6XfYtRuQA

DSCF0649 cadet team kumite Kirsty
http://youtu.be/vwhz_uGCap0

DSCF0650 cadet team kumite Kirsty
http://youtu.be/GuM7EyH_JeA

DSCF0651 cadet team kumite Meleri
http://youtu.be/MVofxi2OeRw

DSCF0652 cadet kata final Meleri
http://youtu.be/e9HKEcNe1-k